Picnic bench riser

ABSTRACT

The foldable side panels of the picnic bench riser have an opening extending inwardly from the back edge for receiving a conventional picnic bench seat. The top wall of the opening in each panel is substantially parallel with the seat of the riser and supports the riser seat on a picnic bench seat a substantial distance above and forward of the picnic bench seat. Clamps carried by the side panels are adapted to engage the bottom surface of the picnic bench seat and to secure the bench riser in place.

United States Patent 1191 Schneider et al.

[ 51 Sept. 3, 1974 [54] PICNIC BENCH RISER 2,453,027 11/1948 Marks 297/54 [761 Paul Schneider Rdr Floyd 3332'??? $5132; vbiili'e'iiiiiij :ijiiiiiii: 3331128 i Schneider, 21 Spring St., both of Springville, NY. 14141 Primary bxamzner-Franc1s K. Zugel 1 Fl|edi p 20, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bacon & Thomas [21] Appl. No.: 290,555

[57] ABSTRACT r r I r i v a s r [58] Fl} .1 .f C an p g extending ly from the k g 1 d 0 Search receiving aconventional picnic bench seat. The top 297/134, 54, 53, 133, 174, 108/97, 24 ll of the Ope ing in each panel is substantially paral- A lel with the seat of the riser and supports the riser seat 56 on a picnic bench seat a substantial distance above 1 References cued and forward of the picnic bench seat. Clamps carried UNITED STATES PATENTS by the side panels are adapted to engage the bottom 152,691 6/1874 Samson 108/97 surface of the picnic bench seat and to secure the 1,161,420' 11/1915 .Snelling 297/252 bench riser in place. 2,147,100 2/1939 Krause .297 252 M 2,332,835 10/ 1943 Anderson 297/174 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures F li l1- 1 \Q\ 0/ 5 39 I I //7 1 v 9 I v I I :;.7:

*1 r) 0 ro I .1 a ,d;

PICNIC BENCH RISER This invention relates to a portable, collapsible riser or seat adapted to be removably secured to a conventional picnic bench seat.

It is an object of this invention to provide a picnic bench riser or seat'adapted to be removably attached to a picnic bench seat for positioning a child a suitable distance above the picnic bench seat and forwardly thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a picnic bench riser or seat constructed and arranged to support a small child at an appropriate height and adjacent the edge of a picnic table on a picnic bench positioned to support adults adjacent the edge of the picnic table.

Another object of the invention is to provide a picnic bench seat which is portable, of sturdy construction and inexpensive to manufacture. I

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following specification when taken in conjunction with a preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the picnic bench riser of the present invention, a picnic table and picnic bench being shown in phantom lines for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the picnic bench riser looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the picnic bench riser of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing the picnic bench riser in a folded position for carrying or storing,

and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale showing the picnic bench riser attached'to the bench of a unitary type picnic table whereinthe benches are fixed to the table.

The present portable picnic bench riser or seat designated generally by the reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is shown associated with a conventional type picnic bench 3 shown in phantom lines and positioned for use adjacent a conventional picnic table'S also shown in phantom lines.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the picnic bench riser 1 includes a pair of supporting panels 7 and 9 connected with the lower surface of a seat member 11.

Each of the supporting panels 7 and 9 has a generally rectangular shaped opening 13 which extends inwardly from the rear wall 15 and 17 of the respective supporting panel for a substantial distance to receive a picnic bench seat 19. The top walls 21 and 23 of the generally U-shaped supporting panels 7 and 9 are spaced a suitable distance below and extends substantially parallel with the seat member 11 and with the upper edge of the respective supporting panel. The top walls 21 and 23 of the openings 13 of the supporting panels 7 and 9 provide a bearing surface for engaging the upper surface In order to secure the present picnic bench riser in fixed position on a picnic bench seat, clamp means in the form of threaded members 31 and 33 are mounted in the lower legs 35 and 37 of the supporting panel 7 and 9 adjacent the entrance of the openings 13. The inner ends 39 and 41 of the threadedmembers 31 and 33 are disposed in opposed relationship to the top walls 21 and 23 of the respective supporting panels 7 and 9 and are adapted to engage with the lower surface 43 of a picnic bench seat 19. The outer end of each of the threaded members 31 and 33 is provided with a T- shaped head 45 and 47 for manually rotating the respective threaded member in a threaded opeing formed in the lower leg of the supporting panels 7 and 9.

The upper edge portion of each of the supporting panels 7 and 9 is hingedly connected to the seat member 11 for movement between a folded position disposed adjacent to and parallel with the lower surface 49 of the seat member, as shown in FIG. 4, and an open, operative position disposed normal to the seat member, as shown in the other Figs. of the drawings. 1 The upper edge of the supporting panel 7 is pivotally mounted on a rod 51 which extends through aligned openings formed in a pair of spaced blocks 53 and 55 fixed to the lower surface 49 of the seat member 11. The blocks 53 and 55, which are-shown to be of generally rectangular configuration, are received in rectangular shaped recesses 57 and 59 formed in the upper edge of the supporting panel 7 and the rod 51 is received in aligned openings formed in the supporting panels 7 adjacentthe upper edge thereof and midway between the side walls 61 and 63 of the supporting panel 7. The upper edge of the side wall 63 is rounded as at 65 to permit the supporting panel 7 to pivot and lie against the lower surface of the seat member 11, as shown in FIG. 4. The upper edge 66 of the supporting panel 7 adjacent the top of the side wall 61 forms an abutment for engaging the lower surface 49 of the seat member 11 and limits pivotal movement of the supporting panel 7 to the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the supporting panel is disposed substantially normal to the seat member 11.

The other supporting panel 9 is pivotally connected to the seat member 11 in a manner quite similar to that already described in connection with the supporting panel 7. An elongated member 67 rigid with the lower surface of the seat member 11 includes depending block members 69 and 71 provided with aligned openings through which a pivot rod 73 extends. The upper edge of the supporting panel 9 is provided with recess openings 75 and 77 in which the block members 69 and 71 are received and the pivot rod 73 extends through aligned openings formed in the supporting panel 9 adjacent the upper edge thereof and midway between the inner and outer side walls 79 and 81. The upper portion of the inner side walls 79 is rounded as at 83 in order to permit the supporting panel to pivot between a folded position as shown in FIG. 4 and an open, operable position as shown in FIG. 2. The upper edge 84 of the supporting panel 9 adjacent the outer side wall 81 provides an abutment for engaging the surface 84a of the elongated member 67 and limiting pivotal movement of the supporting panel 9 to a position disposed substantially normal to the seat member 11.

As a result of the construction described above, the axis of the hinge connection between the supporting panels 7 and 9 and the seat member 11 is located below the upper edge of the correspondingseat panel and between the side walls thereof. In addition, the axis of the pivot rod 73 of the hinge connection between the supporting panel 9 and the seat member 11 is spaced from the seat member a greater distance than the axis of the rod 51 and the hinge connection between the supporting panel 7 and-the seat member 11 so that, in the folded carrying or storage position as shown in FIG. 4, the supporting panels 7 and 9 lie flat against one another and with the supporting panel 7 contiguous to the lower surface of the seat member .so as to'occupy the least possible storage or carrying space.

The members of the present picnic bench riser may be formed of any suitable material such as plastic, metal, wood, etc. so as to provide a seat which is sturdy, durable and convenient to transport.

In use, in order to support a child at the proper height with regard to the surface of a picnic table and adjacent to the edge of the picnic table while the picnic bench on which the picnic bench riser is mounted is in a position for comfortably supportingadults adjacent to the edge of the picnic table, the picnic bench riser may be quickly and easily detachablysecured in fixed position on a picnic bench seat by inserting the front edge of the picnic bench seat into the rectangular openings 13 until the front edge engages the inner walls 25 and 27 of the supporting panels 7 and 9 and by then turning the threaded members 31 and 33 until the inner ends 39 and 41 engage the lower surface 43 of the picnic seat.

FIG. shows the picnic bench riser 1 described above attached to the picnic bench seat 90 of a unitary type picnic table 91 wherein the bench seats 90 are mounted at either side of the picnic table 92 at the outer ends of horizontal support members 93 fixed to and supported by the legs 94 of the table as by bolts 95. A child seated on the riser attached to a picnic bench of the type shown in FIG. 5, would be elevated above the picnic bench seat and supported forwardly thereof an appropriate distance so as to be positioned at the proper height and distance from the surface and the adjacent edge of the table. 7

While a preferred form of the invention has been described and illustrated, such changes and alterations as would occur to one skilled in the art are to be considered within the purview of this invention as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

member and disposed in cooperating recess means provided in the upper edge of each corresponding supporting panel, and a pivot rod extending through aligned openings formed in said block means and in said supporting panel, the axis of each hinge connection being located below the upper edge of the corresponding supporting panel and between the side walls thereof, the axis of one of the hinge. connections being spaced from the seat member a greater distance than the axis of the other hinge connection, the upperedge of each supporting panel adjacent the outer side wall thereof abutting against a surface rigid with said seat member when in the unfolded operative position for limiting unfolding, pivotal movement of the supporting panels to said operative position, each of said supporting panels being I generally U-shaped and having a picnic bench seat receiving opening extending inwardly thereof from the rear wall, the top wall of the opening being spaced below and extending substantially parallel with the upper edge of the respective supporting panel and providing a bearing surface for engaging the upper surface of a picnic bench seat and supporting the seat member spaced above and forward of the picnic bench seat, the inner wall of each opening extending generally perpendicularly from said top wall to provide a stop surface for engaging the vertical front edge of a picnic bench seat; and clamp means carried by each of said supporting panels for engagingthe picnic bench seat and securing the bearing surfaces in engagement therewith, said cla'mp means comprising a threaded member operably mounted in the lower leg of each of the U-shaped members adjacent the entrance of said opening and extending toward said top wall for clamping engagement with the lower surface of a picnic bench seat. 

1. A portable picnic bench riser, comprising: a seat member; a pair of supporting panels positioned below and at opposite sides of said seat member; hinge means pivotally connecting the upper edge portion of each of said supporting panels with said seat member for movement between a folded position disposed adjacent to and parallel with the lower surface of said seat member and an unfolded, operative position disposed normal to said seat member, each of said hinge means comprising block means rigid with the lower surface of said seat member and disposed in cooperating recess means provided in the upper edge of each corresponding supporting panel, and a pivot rod extending through aligned openings formed in said block means and in said supporting panel, the axis of each hinge connection being located below the upper edge of the corresponding supporting panel and between the side walls thereof, the axis of one of the hinge connections being spaced from the seat member a greater distance than the axis of the other hinge connection, the upper edge of each supporting panel adjacent the outer side wall thereof abutting against a surface rigid with said seat member when in the unfolded operative position for limiting unfolding, pivotal movement of the supporting panels to said operative position, each of said supporting panels being generally U-shaped and having a picnic bench seat receiving opening extending inwardly thereof from the rear wall, the top wall of the opening being spaced below and extending substantially parallel with the upper edge of the respective supporting panel and providing a bearing surface for engaging the upper surface of a picnic bench seat and supporting the seat member spaced above and forward of the picnic bench seat, the inner wall of each opening Extending generally perpendicularly from said top wall to provide a stop surface for engaging the vertical front edge of a picnic bench seat; and clamp means carried by each of said supporting panels for engaging the picnic bench seat and securing the bearing surfaces in engagement therewith, said clamp means comprising a threaded member operably mounted in the lower leg of each of the U-shaped members adjacent the entrance of said opening and extending toward said top wall for clamping engagement with the lower surface of a picnic bench seat. 